Zelenskyy: first Ukraine–US–Russia trilateral talks take place in Abu Dhabi

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday said the first round of talks between diplomatic delegations from Ukraine, the United States, and Russia has already taken place in Abu Dhabi.

Zelenskyy confirmed that representatives of all three countries are meeting in the United Arab Emirates, noting that such a trilateral format has not been held for a long time.

“Ukrainian representatives are updating me almost every hour, they are currently in the Emirates. Ukrainian, American, and Russian delegations are all there today. We have already had a conversation. This is important, because trilateral meetings like this have not taken place for quite some time,” the President said.

Zelenskyy added the discussions focus on parameters for ending the war in Ukraine. He stressed that negotiators must receive “at least some answers from Russia” and added that Moscow must demonstrate readiness to end “the war it itself started.”

Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s position remains clear and that he has outlined the framework for dialogue for the Ukrainian delegation. He cautioned that it is too early to draw conclusions about the substance of the negotiations, while emphasising that the willingness to end the war must exist not only in Ukraine, but also in Russia.